Not only is the Carroll County School District about to be introduced to their new man in charge in July, but Carroll Academy also has a new headmaster to oversee the school.
Carroll Academy welcomes Barry Finnie, he comes to Carroll Academy from Greenville Christian. Finnie spent most of his career at Delta Academy where he was a coach, a history teacher and a headmaster for 17 years. Finnie also taught at Southaven Middle and High School.
Finnie obtained his bachelor’s degree at Harding University in Arkansas. He began teaching shortly after and went back to school and obtained in master’s degree in 2012 from Delta State University.
Finnie replaces former headmaster Penny Mitchell. Mitchell served as headmaster of Carroll Academy from 2018 until this year. Finnie is not a stranger to running a school or to Carroll Academy, but this year’s a little different from him.
He’s worked as a girls’ basketball coach, a boys basketball coach and a baseball coach. Finnie said as a coach, he’s competed against Carroll Academy, but in his new position he’s leading them.
“I didn’t realize we had this many students until I got here,” he said. “There are a couple of classes that are above average, and those classes are split up.”
Finnie said when he was at Delta Academy, he had over 100 students, at Greenville Christian he had over 260 but at Carroll Academy he’s over 300. He said it’s the biggest school that oversees but he welcomes it.
“I’m a small school guy, a big school in a big city that wouldn’t fit me,” he said.
He said that he knew before coming that Carroll Academy was a great school and he wants to maintain that. Finnie said if there was something he wanted the parents at Carroll Academy to know, he’s hardworking, he like dedication and his goal is to create productive and successful citizens.
“I think one of things we’re going to work in is consistency. I like consistency. If we do things the right way and by the book, you tend to stay out of trouble,” he said.
Finnie said that he’s ready to get the year underway. “The people here have been welcoming. I came in at the end of school. I’ve met some of them. I have to hire some more, but the ones that I have met, they’ve stopped by and talked with me. Everyone here is really nice,” he said.
“I’m ready to get the year started. I say that with hesitancy because you never know what the year will bring, but I’m ready to get the year underway.”
